Why the name change to the Little Mermaid ride?

Aside from queue they're pretty much the same thing. I don't get why the name of the ride was changed from The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure (DL) to Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid (MK) especially since the latter creates confusion with the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show at DHS. Either way most people call it The Little Mermaid as it is. I don't think any other ride that was cloned had this same issue did it? I wouldn't count the Finding Nemo rides because they are two completely different experiences that uses similar characters and moments.

Anyway sorry if this was brought up already. I'm rather surprised by the complexe and confused names, considering how oversimplified their movie titles are nowadays.

Re: Why the name change to the Little Mermaid ride?

Originally Posted by toonaspie

Aside from queue they're pretty much the same thing. I don't get why the name of the ride was changed from The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure (DL) to Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid (MK) especially since the latter creates confusion with the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show at DHS. Either way most people call it The Little Mermaid as it is. I don't think any other ride that was cloned had this same issue did it? I wouldn't count the Finding Nemo rides because they are two completely different experiences that uses similar characters and moments.

Anyway sorry if this was brought up already. I'm rather surprised by the complexe and confused names, considering how oversimplified their movie titles are nowadays.

I think it just makes the appearance of a different ride when in actuality they are relatively similar, it leads guests who have not visited the other coast and do not yet know whats available over here to assume there is something different. that and it works for the whole synergy thing with voyage and journey being the differentiating terms.

Re: Why the name change to the Little Mermaid ride?

Originally Posted by KingEric

Well buzz has a different name in each park

Those aren't clones though there are legitimate differences in the ride. Granted it's still a buzz lightyear dark ride with spinning vehicles and laser guns, they could've easily copied the name. But also in its defense, the name change actually describes the ride better -- "Space Ranger Spin" focuses on a little word play about the spinning vehicles, "Astro Blasters" focuses on the fact it's a laser shooting attraction -- while Mermaid's name change really makes diddly squat of a difference.. so it's a decision of marketing. But finally, and most probably having to do with it, Disneyland has Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin already taking up the "spin" attraction nameplay.

The main defense I have had for WDW's name change is if they wanted to pay homage to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by keeping 'Under the Sea' as the main focus of the name. But they obviously have to reference the little mermaid so they have the tag afterwards.

Re: Why the name change to the Little Mermaid ride?

Is there a correlation between slightly different names for very similar attractions at different US parks and the One Disney initiative? Does it contradict? Is it confusing?

It seems, that on the one hand, they want the parks to be homogenized while on the other they want to trick us into expecting a different experience by slightly altering the name of an attraction. Hmmm....